Who says you can't go home?

"You find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford." - Samuel Johnson (English poet, critic, and writer. 1709-1784)

I arrived in London Heathrow Airport and was soooooo excited. I walked through arrivals and found Alison with a "Welcome Home" banner, and cards from the other girls who couldn't be there. In a way it was a homecoming because London was my home for just under a year, the same way the Nish was my home for 3 years, Innisfil was my home for 15 years, and Glasgow will be my home. I stayed with Alison and it was so great to catch up with her. She is one of those people that I wish I'd met on my first day in England, instead of all the way into second term.

Maya came over that night and after much screaming we finally went for something to eat. It was as if no time had past - a true measure of friendship.

I met up with the girls at Covent Garden for the night market and had such a good time - great food, great shopping, great friends. We found a tea stall and I bought Chocolate Flake tea, and Maya bought, are you ready for this? Popcorn tea!! I'm posting the link for this site because there are so many different/unique teas out there, and if you want some I can try and get it for you.

http://www.teapigs.co.uk/tea/black-tea/chocolate-flake-tea/

Alison and I outside Covent Garden market - this pic took many attempts as people kept walking past and I kept laughing. Maya was nearly run over so that I could have a pic in my blog.

We continued our tour of London and had a blast. London at night is so beautiful, so many lights and things happening. Truly never a dull moment.

Canada House

On my last day, Alison and I, being the history fiends that we are, went to Hampton Court - Henry VIII's home on the range. First, we walked through a park where the deer are the descendants of those that Henry would have hunted. They truly rule the roost around there, and while somewhat fenced in, they just climb under and walk across the cricket pitch.

Hampton Court is incredible. (sidenote of irony, I'm watching The Tudors right now!) We went through the maze there and got only slightly lost.

Alison getting "lost".

Me after defeating the maze.

I also got to visit Mr. Toby Lester whilst in Twickenham, and again it was as if nothing had changed. We talked about nothing of any importance and just got caught up. I even scored a hug out of it.

I had a bit of a struggle getting from Richmond station to the Victoria coach station. I took the tube to Victoria rail station but then had to walk with 2 suitcases, my backpack, laptop bag and purse to the coach station. I was sweating bombs and then had to sit on the bus for 9 hours to Glasgow. The high point of my journey? I met Lucy from Brittany. We sat on the bus together and thanks to her ability to speak English (despite my poor French) we kept each other company.

I arrived in Glasgow just before 8:00am and after being ripped off by a black hack taxi, I made it to Cumbernauld safe and sound.

Peace out brusselsprouts!
(Entry about Glasgow to come soon - I've already given you two what more do you want?)